Where the meter is
For a house, the meter is usually near the street. Sydney Water says it is usually at the front of the property, South East Water says it is usually near the front gate or fence, and Water Corporation says it is usually in the front garden close to the verge.
Units and apartments are different. South East Water explains that a unit’s meter is connected to the building’s main meter and may be near your front door or in a service cupboard; if you can’t find it, it suggests asking your building management or owners corporation.
Black wheels and red wheels
Hunter Water explains that the white dials on its meters count kilolitres and the red dials count litres, and that one kilolitre is 1,000 litres. Icon Water describes black numbers for kilolitres and red for litres, read from left to right.
Because the red wheels count single litres, a small leak shows there before it reaches the black ones. Water Corporation’s test asks only for the three red numbers.
The test, step by step
- Turn everything off. Unitywater lists taps, the hose, the washing machine, plumbed fridges, dishwashers and irrigation. Sydney Water adds drip systems.
- Leave the meter tap on. Sydney Water and Unitywater both say the tap at the meter must stay turned on for the test.
- Record the numbers. Unitywater and Hunter Water suggest taking a photo or writing the reading down, red numbers included.
- Use no water, and wait. How long depends on the utility: see the timings below.
- Read the meter again. If the numbers have changed, Hunter Water says you may have a hidden leak and may need a licensed plumber to locate and repair it. South East Water suggests repeating the test to make sure.
How long to wait, by utility
The shortest wait in this selection is fifteen minutes and the longest is a whole night. A longer wait gives a slow leak more time to show on the wheels.
- 15 minutesWater Corporation, Western Australia.
- 20 minutesSouth East Water, Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.
- At least an hourSydney Water and Unitywater.
- About an hour or twoSA Water, South Australia.
- OvernightHunter Water, TasWater and Icon Water: read it last thing at night and again first thing in the morning.
TasWater’s version starts at the end of the day: turn off all household and garden taps, flush the toilet, then record the numbers.
If your meter is digital
Water Corporation has a separate test for its integrated smart meters: turn off all taps, wait a few minutes, then check the water usage on the meter. If usage per hour is greater than zero, you may have a leak.
Some utilities send alerts. South East Water asks customers to keep their mobile and email details up to date so its leak alerts reach them promptly.
If the numbers moved
A moving meter tells you water is going somewhere; it doesn’t say where. Unitywater’s advice is to have a licensed plumber investigate, and in the meantime you can turn the stop tap at the meter off temporarily, as long as that won’t damage appliances such as a hot water system. South East Water gives similar advice: turn off the supply at the stop tap near the meter while you wait for repairs, and turn it back on only when you need it.
Sydney Water notes that for a large leak you will probably need a plumber with specialist equipment. If you can’t find a leak or explain high water use, it offers a water meter test for a fee, which it refunds if the meter proves faulty.
Next, look for the clues: signs of a hidden leak. Then work out whose pipe it is, because that decides who arranges the repair.